Tri-County Technical College
Faculty Senate Minutes
Meeting Date: March 06, 2020
Location: SSC 205
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Members Present: Renet Bender, Richard Burton, Meredith Dickens, Corey Evans, Pam Goodman, Amanda Karaganov, Som Linthicum, Malisa Looney, Gerald Maxie, Jeremy McCracken, Jennifer Porter, Doug Stephens, Debbie Vance, James Walker, Rhonda Whitten
Members Absent: Susan Curtis, Deborah DeMino, Roxanna Ezenekwe, Jan Gibbs, Foster Sims, Mia Tensley, Sharon Yarborough
Special Guests: Luke VanWingerden (CIO/IT), Ken Kopera (DIR/PhysPlant)
Welcome & Review of the Agenda:
Pam called the meeting to order at 12:32pm and briefly reviewed the day’s agenda.
Approval of Minutes:
The Minutes from February 14th were reviewed and approved by Senate without amendment. Som will forward them for posting to the Blogspot, and Pam will update them as approved in TEAMS.
New Business:
Guest Speaker – Luke Van Wingerden (CIO/IT)
IT Update: Luke offered an overview of the current planning and action process – an IT road map – which he divided into 3 phases. Highlights are discussed below with Luke’s more comprehensive project map appended.
Phase 1: Listening, Learning, Understanding TCTC (IT Strategies) – Aug 2018 - January 2020
The listening phase was begun a year and half ago, when Luke came on-board, and has been characterized by focused discussions throughout the college in an effort to understand and appreciate the IT priorities and concerns of the community at-large. Luke indicated that he has tried to cast his net widely and include as many voices as possible in order to foster a diverse, team-based approach. It is hoped that this will remain an ongoing process.
Phase 2: Modernizing, Expanding, Maturing Our Capabilities – Nov 2020 - Dec 2021 (projected)
According to Luke, we are now on the cusp of this next phase of operations. Several projects are underway but may not yet have been announced or shared more broadly. Of note…
- eTC: The TCTC portal is a prime area of focus, and significant remodeling is forthcoming with a projected launch date in the near future. Much of that project is currently its preliminary stages, approving and procuring necessary resources. While the full scope and timeline of the effort is still being determined, Luke expects that adjustments will be needed along the way and that feedback mechanisms will be installed to support the process.
- Firewall: The external firewall was replaced in February successfully completing a prolonged and complex project that has remained largely transparent to users.
- Community campuses: Infrastructural connections have been replaced and upgraded in order to enhance functionality across the community campuses.
- Distributed File System upgrade has been accomplished.
- Starfish enhancement and improvements are unfolding.
Phase 3: Realizing, Transforming our Business – Agile Development and Delivery (Ongoing)
This third phase of operations has already begun on some level, at least in terms of planning and projection. Of note…
- Actively planning redesign of classroom spaces at the community campuses in line with the parameters established by the Physical Learning Environment Experience Team last spring. The hope is that all classrooms on all campuses will eventually be retooled to support those teaching and learning objectives.
- A broad effort is now underway to streamline processes and workflows in order to alleviate unnecessary duplication of efforts and to minimize time investments. This could pertain to several processes that involve faculty. Gerald asked if such an effort might include graduate orientation which is currently a heavily manual process that could seemingly be ameliorated and simplified by being digitized. Luke indicated that, yes, that could be an example where workflows, eforms, and overlapping layers of documentation could be made more efficient as part of a larger, generalized improvement process. He hopes to manage a range of smaller projects incrementally as building blocks to overall improvement.
- Pam raised the issue of multifactor authentication, and Luke indicated that, indeed, this was an area of ongoing concern, but, as of now, we have not determined an approach. Meredith asked if/how it might be possible to decrease the sheer number of sign-ins necessary to move from one digital environment to the next, and Luke indicated that this was an acknowledged point of frustration for both faculty and staff.
- Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) were brought up briefly as an example of the kind of housekeeping necessary to bring us in line with overall best practices.
Luke opened the floor for more general questions, and Som brought forward a constituent concern. The English faculty and students, as part of their information literacy instruction, have had ongoing difficulties accessing various digital databases in several classrooms around the Pendleton campus. They have brought this concern to the service desk, but they are still experiencing the problem which undermines their in-class instruction and their students’ ability to work in a guided environment with those resources. There had been some suggestion that the problem was caused by a lack of wireless connectivity in particular classrooms. Som asked a) if this seemed like it could be a possible cause, and b) if so, how it might be addressed.
Luke was reticent to speak directly to that specific issue without first reviewing the particulars in more detail, but he did indicate that IT was planning to conduct a wireless survey of TCTC campuses. The intent was to construct a kind of "heat map," identifying areas of greater or lesser signal strength across campus. He offered that the survey would start in Fulp Hall in the relatively near future and was projected to take about 8 months to complete.
Luke further clarified that, if student or faculty patrons feel that a concern is not being adequately addressed, there is a process of escalation that can be followed…
- Initial problems or concerns should be reported directly to the Service Desk. If the Service Desk can address the problem, they will do so as quickly as possible. Bringing the issue to the attention of the Service Desk also helps them to identify more systematic concerns – lots of folks reporting the same or similar problems.
- If the issue cannot be resolved by the Service Desk, patrons can bring the concern forward to Melissa Baxter who will investigate and try to address the problem.
- If Melissa cannot resolve the issue, the concern can be further raised with Jeanne Otey.
- If Jeannie cannot satisfactorily resolve the issue, it can be further raised with Luke.
Rhonda indicated that, on occasion, she has been told by the Service Desk that a problem was simply unfixable, and she wondered if that were a sufficient response. Luke granted that IT may not be able to successfully resolve all problems, but that the escalation process should help them to better understand where areas of particular struggle and frustration lie.
Building off that discussion, Luke reminded the group that Kate Baggott has now come aboard as the new IT Knowledge Manager & Trainer, and that one of her primary objectives will be to develop a training plan. It is expected that she will be working with faculty and staff to identify key areas of opportunity for that plan.
Guest Speaker – Ken Kopera (DIR/PhysPlant)
Capital Projects Update: Ken walked the Senate through a range of capital projects and construction/renovation efforts at various stages of development. Some of those projects are beginning now, and others are still emerging.
Currently in operation…
- Anderson Hall Event Center
- Renovations are underway now
- There will be limited access to the area for a time as a crane is brought in to install new HVAC units on the roof
- Pam asked about parking issues that might be associated with the project and the need in general to maneuver around work/utility vehicles. Ken will do his best to keep thoroughfares as open and unobstructed as reasonably possible
- Work is due to be completed on the Event Hall by roughly June 1st
- Fulp Hall
- Restrooms throughout the building will be upgraded – floors 2 & 4 should be completed by the end of spring break, before floors 1, 3, and 5 are begun
- Bio & Chem labs, as well as work rooms, on the 4th floor are being renovated/installed
- Fulp classrooms and lecture spaces will be coming offline in order to allow for instructional upgrades – electrical and digital components, whiteboards, projection systems – that correspond to the PLEET recommendations mentioned earlier.
- Because of the complexity of those projects, the Nursing faculty is being temporarily relocated to Anderson Hall
- It’s hoped that Fulp renovations will be completed by about August 1st in time for the beginning of the Fall semester
- Cleveland and Anderson Halls
- Restroom upgrades are also scheduled for these buildings with a projected completion date prior to the fall semester
- Physical Plant
- Data and server rooms are receiving attention
- A new onsite storage facility is being installed
Looking forward to next year…
- Pickens and Anderson Halls
- Roof replacement is needed
- Due to the anticipated noise and disruption, some faculty offices are likely to move temporarily
- Oconee Hall
- There is a strong desire to undertake a major renovation of Oconee Hall, but the form and extent of that renovation is still under development
- There is no budget yet for the project; those funds will ultimately need to be approved by the commission, based on allocations from the State of SC
- Ideas for possible interventions have ranged from a new building to a major interior redesign akin to Ruby Hicks to more limited, targeted renovations – the installation of windows on the first floor, for instance.
- Ken is beginning preliminary talks with potential developers and hopes to get a green light to undertake planning in earnest by June.
- Best case estimates for the project would look to Summer of 2021 or Winter 2021/22
- Miller Hall
- Would undergo what Ken euphemistically called the Miller Lite Renovation. The intent would be to temporally rework existing spaces to create as many as 10 classrooms to help with the overflow from Oconee Hall, if that building does eventually go offline for a major renovation.
- Central Plaza
- Initial phases of planning are complete and a final concept will be presented to executive staff in the coming week.
- Timing for the central plaza revamp has yet to be determined, but it could sync with the projected Oconee Hall renovation.
- Ken did offer that whenever the central plaza project commences, it will likely coincide with trenching work designed to move water from the central water-chiller plant in the SSC to Oconee for AC purposes.
- Automotive Relocation
- Ken acknowledged that at some future date it will be necessary to relocate the automotive facility which continues to grow and expand, but the plans for such a move are much further out in the future than the projects already mentioned.
Rhonda asked about possible plans for Cleveland Hall, beyond the restroom upgrade. Ken offered that elements of a master plan for Cleveland are still in-progress with no specific target date as yet.
Ken emphasized that all such plans are always subject to funding lines and re-evaluation based on real-time developments, and, despite the best laid plans, tend to run a bit behind schedule.
Open questions from the group focused on parking and accessibility concerns, particularly for less-nimble faculty. Specific concerns mentioned included the possible loss of the Oconee parking lot, if a second bus stop / student drop-off point were constructed, and ongoing issues with congestion around the Fulp Hall circle. Ken suggested that folks continue to inform Campus Police about the latter concern.
Other New Business – Nominations
Per the pre-established election schedule, the Senate was asked to bring to the floor any nominations from their constituents for Faculty Senate President. Jimmy offered Jeremy’s name with Corey and Rhonda seconding the nomination. Jeremy accepted. Som asked if Pam would entertain another term, and Pam graciously declined. With no other nominations immediately apparent, it was noted that the Constitution & By-Laws specifies that…
A minimum of two and a maximum of four nominees will be presented to the full faculty for voting (3.1.F)
Som shared that a member of his constituency had asked if there might be a master list of eligible faculty, referring to the clause in the C&B that limits eligibility to full-time faculty either currently serving on Senate or who have served on Senate within the past 5 years. Som indicated that he and Pam had tried in a preliminary fashion to determine such a list, but the time-depth of minutes and records had been problematic.
Debbie kindly offered Som’s name as an additional nominee, and Meredith seconded. Som indicated that he would be willing to serve in a sacrificial capacity but proposed that Senators also return to their constituents in hopes of garnering additional nominees. The proposal was accepted with the understanding that names of any additional nominees would need to be shared with Pam and the Senate at-large no later than Thursday, March 12th. Pam further noted that all nominees would need to provide a "candidate profile" as stipulated in the Constitution & By-Laws (3.1.G), so that it could be distributed to faculty by the March 23rd deadline. In order to assist Senators and their constituents, Pam will attempt to construct a list of eligible faculty.
To summarize, then, Faculty Senate has preliminarily taken up two nominations – Jeremy & Som – with the expectation that any additional nominees will be brought forward by March 12th. Because the Constitution & By-Laws states that nominees will be vetted and voted upon by Senate before being brought before the full faculty, Senate may need to undertake that vote via email, due to time constraints.
Standing Items:
Committee Updates:
Academic Calendar Committee continues to work on semester schedules with deadlines pending.
Curriculum Committee is scheduled to meet again on March 13th.
21st C Skills Committee hosted a session on PD Day focusing on oral communication and digital literacy. The session was reasonably well-attended, and the committee received positive and insightful feedback from participants.
The Faculty Choice SOAR Award sub-group [Pam, Meredith, Amanda, Gerald, Deborah, and Som] is scheduled to meet again on March 23rd. They will begin to consider appropriate criteria for the award, the logistical process of nomination and selection, and the possibility of additional fundraising at the end of the Spring semester.
The Faculty Competencies sub-group [Jeremy, Meredith, Jimmy, Gerald, and Amanda] held their inaugural meeting last week. They are beginning to solicit input from targeted faculty, and Som asked if there would be a mechanism to include input from the faculty writ-large. The group is hoping to do so. Doug suggested that diversity and inclusion should be consider as faculty competencies and offered to share insights from Clemson’s recent efforts in that area.
PAC met on February 19th to share ideas garnered from area focus groups regarding the College’s new strategic directions. Pam brought forward the Senate’s suggestions for "Fostering Learning & Collaboration." That effort is will continue throughout the semester.
ALT will meet again on March 10th.
Division Updates
A&S: The Psychology Club is organizing an event in support of Brain Awareness Week, which will take place after Spring break.
BPS will be hosting their career fair on March 25th. The Business Technology Advisory Committee will also be hosting Steps-to-Success on April 1st from 9am 12pm. Media Arts will sponsor their annual Media Mash-Up in April. Also in April, on the 21st – 23rd, ECE will host portfolio panels for graduating students – students present to an audience their portfolios which detail their professional journey through the program, including artifacts and reflections. All interested faculty are invited to attend. ECE will also host a showing of the documentary, "No Small Matter," which focuses on the importance and life-long impact of early childhood brain development -- birth to 5 years old. Community members from the College and beyond are invited to attend. The event is preliminarily scheduled to occur on April 14th to coincide with the national week of the young child.
EIT will host a Skills USA Competition on March 26th thru 27th for high school students from across the state.
Health Education is examining ways to re-tool their curriculum in order to better accommodate active-learning initiatives.
SSE - Learning Commons faculty librarians are continuing to work on the migration to a new library management system – Alma/Primo. The migration is occurring in concert with other PASCAL colleges and universities across the state and will provide us with a more robust information discovery and management system. In addition, the Learning Commons, in partnership with Academic Development and Social Sciences Department Head Stacey Frank, has submitted a proposal to host the 2021 South Carolina Conference on Innovation in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
Essential Takeaways
Pam has marshalled the essential takeaways and will be distributing them to the Senate membership.
Good of the Order
Doug reported that Clemson University, in response to concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus, is bringing students home from all travel abroad programs and has suspended additional international travel until further notice. Doug also noted that his Clemson department, Education, had cancelled domestic travel. Gerald reported that EIT was encouraging all faculty to be prepared to work from home, if necessary. Pam noted that she is scheduled to meet with the President this week and will ask about possible TCTC responses to the novel coronavirus.
Adjournment
All business completed for the day, the meeting was adjourned at 2:00pm.
Next meeting: March 27th, 2020
Update: Due to the demands of the college closure, Senate chose to cancel their previously scheduled March 27th meeting. Under our President’s leadership, Senate elections were able to move forward virtually, and the 2020-21 Senate will be installed on schedule on April 30th.
Handout: IT – Luke VanWingerden
